Bobby
"Slick" Leonard

ABA Team: Indiana (1968-69 to 1975-76)

Bob "Slick" Leonard
is the cornerstone of the Indiana Pacers franchise.
He was the winningest coach in the 9 year history of the ABA. He has
3 ABA Championships and 3 ABA Division Titles to his credit. In addition,
Slick took the club to the ABA Finals on 2 other occasions: 5 out of
his 8 years he led the team to the ABA Finals. As Coach of the ABA
Pacers, he never missed the playoffs. Slick was a 2-Time All-American
player for Indiana University. He played 7 years in the NBA for the
Minneapolis Lakers, the Chicago Packers, and the Chicago Zephyrs. He
is the current Pacers Radio Color Man.

From Jim
O'Brien's 1970-71 Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball:
A good team, a good coach, a good organization.
That's why Pacers are one of the most successful ABA franchises.
Been that way almost from the very start. Leonard continues
to provide strong leadershp. "Management convinced me that they weren't
out to hire and fire," he says, explaning why he took
the Pacers job. Called
Slick only because he's smooth enough to steal smoke,
Leonard is a disciplinarian. When
he took over the Pacers two years ago to lead them to
two ABA East titles, and last year the league championsip,
Leonard's Law came into being. "You got the last guy fired," Leonard
said at the time. "That won't happen to me." Sure
enough.
"Slick knows the game, knows how to handle pros," says Pacer
captain Freddie Lewis.

Coaching
Record

Regular
Season

Playoffs

1968-69

42-27

9-8

1969-70

59-25

12-3

1970-71

58-26

7-4

1971-72

47-37

12-8

1972-73

51-33

12-6

1973-74

46-38

7-7

1974-75

45-39

9-9

1975-76

39-45

1-2

Early
in the 1972-73 season, the Pacers visited their biggest rivals,
the Utah Stars. Late in the game won by the Stars, Coach
Slick Leonard felt that the 30-second shot clock had expired
before a Utah basket. After his ranting and raving gained
nothing but two technicals and an ejection, Leonard exploded
in a memorable fit of temper. Shocking the Utah fans, Leonard
ran onto the court, grabbed the red, white and blue basketball,
and punted it far up into the seats. Stars lensman
Bob Rapp was lucky enough to capture the "kicking moment"
in the photo above left. Naturally, the incident resulted
in a significant fine and suspension for Leonard.

Showing
a good sense of humor, Stars management turned the tirade
into a unique promotion. The next time the Pacers visited
Salt Lake City, the Stars put Leonard on the cover of the
official game program (left). And, before the game, Stars
GM Vince Boryla gave a special gift to the temperamental
Pacers coach: he presented Leonard with a framed photo
of the incident (photo above right).

In 1975 the war of words
between the ABA and the NBA was heating up.

In a quote that appeared in Sports Illustrated, the
Celtics' Red Auerbach said that Pacers' coach Slick
Leonard was a "bad coach when he was with Baltimore
in the NBA and he must be a dog now too." Auerbach
also said that "Julius Erving is nice kid but
not a great player."

In the beginning of the ABA's last season (1975-76), Slick
Leonard attempted to improve his relationship with ABA referees.
He tried to remain more calm on the bench, and reduced his
technical fouls. Needless to say, this didn't last very long
as the Pacers battled for a playoff spot near the end of
the season.